Angels of Mercy or Development Diplomats?: NGOs and Foreign Aid

Description

Is the world witnessing a global associational revolution spearheaded by development non-governmental organizations (NGOs)? Is the relationship between states and societies being more fundamentally redefined, even in remote, rural corners of the world? What role does the mushrooming of development NGOs play in this political-ideological process? What about NGO staff? Are they angels of mercy, government-paid development diplomats, propagandists for a triumphant West, or instruments in a coming clash between civilizations? Presented here are cases from Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Bangladesh and Nicaragua that shed light on these complex questions. The text puts forward a critique of central theories and concepts which have dominated research and discourse on development NGOs. It also proposes and demonstrates some different analytical approaches.

Create a review

Contents

In search of the development NGOs; why do development NGOs exist?; how to analyze an NGO scene I - some alternative perspectives; how to analyze an NGO scene II - an international social system; how to analyze an NGO scene III - the Norwegian sub-system; NGOs and the "article of faith"; NGOs at "the end of history"; NGOs - angels of mercy or state paid diplomats?